Not So New Comic Review: Guardians of the Galaxy (1991) #21

                 In a bad costume free for-all we have not only Charlie’s multiple pockets and bullets but also Vance’s sleeveless trenchcoat.  Add in to that this issue’s inclusion of Rancor and her hairy-gloved, pointy shoulder-padded ensemble and it is just an embarrassment of riches (or just an embarrassment, depending on how you view superhero fashion).

                The issue starts out with the mutants on Earth and Rancor tearing through everyone in her path to find Wolverine.  There is no mention of what she plans on doing with him once she finds him, but nonetheless, she’s looking for him.  The rest of the mutants get in on the action and then we see a shadowy figure that is apparently hidden (Stephen King style) under a dome.  He has some kind of nefarious plot afoot but we won’t find out                                                               what that is for awhile. 

 

                Enough moving the plot along though, because now it’s time for some hardcore character development.  First up we get to see Nikki try and singe the hair off of Talon in the naughtiest way possible, but he rebuffs her advances.  This leaves her dejected but if you’ve ever smelled burnt hair than his rebuttal was probably for the best.  Charlie briefly thinks of comforting Nikki, but decides against it.  Vance and Hollywood are sparring and then talk about their feelings, and then we cut to Yondu and Tarin (the leader of the Comandeers) just sharing their feelings without sparring.

                Quicklly we cut to a prison with a lizard-looking alien trapped in an apparently inescapable cell.  Something breaks him out, but we are not allowed to know who just yet.

                Back on Earth an alarm sounds, notifying the Guardians that Rancor is on the planet and tearing through all of the normal humans.  This cannot stand so they go out to meet her and stop her rampage.

                We take another quick break and witness the struggle between Aleta, Starhawk and the Hawk-God that gave those two their powers.  It’s not pretty as Aleta gets eaten (not really, but in her reality she is, which removes her physical presence from the situation).

                Back on Earth the Guardians jump out of some sort of aircraft high above Rancor and float(?) down to her location.  Rancor gets mad and proclaims that they will die (of course she does).

                In space, where no one can hear you scream, Aleta is doing so anyway as her presence is stifled by the all new all dark Starhawk.

                Next Issue:  Someone may actually fight Rancor, we get to meet the dark evilness that is black Starhawk and possibly even learn where Wolverine is after all this time (though probably not).